Mike Bousselot was first elected as a state legislator during a special 2021 election following the death of former Rep. John Landon (R-Ankeny). Photo: Courtesy of the Iowa Legislature
"It feels like they want to make people feel the pain so that they can go after production of agriculture again."
— State Sen. Mike Bousselot (R-Ankeny), in discussing the metro's ongoing water crisis and lawn-watering ban with the DSM Register.
Context: In 2015, DSM Water Works sued three northwest Iowa counties and multiple drainage districts in federal court, alleging they violated the Clean Water Act by not better controlling nitrates.
The legal battle created political waves before a judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2017, concluding the widespread problems are for the Iowa Legislature to address.
The latest:A two-year water study commissioned by Polk County government two years ago that was completed and released last month concluded that about 80% of DSM's river nitrates are linked to farming.
